Electric vehicles in Southampton

We currently have 44 electric vehicle charging points installed across the city. We are working with partners to install additional points to ensure we meet growing demand for accessible, quick and efficient charging points.

See the map above for where you can charge your electric vehicle in Southampton. Charging at all of our existing sites is free for an introductory period.

City centre season ticket parking reductions

Itchen Bridge - free toll

Owners of fully electric vehicles living in local council areas can currently cross the Itchen Bridge free of charge with a SmartCities card. Find out more about the electric vehicle concession and how to apply.

Thinking of buying a new vehicle?

If you are, let us know! We want to find out the views of current electric vehicle owners and prospective buyers to get an early indication of where charge points may need to be installed on-street. Email us on cleanairnetwork@southampton.gov.uk

For independent information about electric vehicles you can visit Next Green Car.

Why should you change to a low emission vehicle?

Vehicles in the UK are predominantly petrol or diesel powered, producing 331,000 tonnes of NOx pollutants nationwide (DEFRA, 2016). For this reason we fully support a move from combustion engine vehicles to electric ones, and are doing a number of things to encourage this transformation.

On this page you will find a list of our charging points and a list of the ongoing concessions offered to electric vehicle drivers in Southampton. Keep coming back for further updates on what we have on offer as our charge point network grows.

Benefits of switching

By switching to a zero emission capable vehicle you can save money on fuel costs, reduce harmful vehicle emissions and help clean up Southampton's air.

There are also financial benefits:

The government offers grants for new plug-in vehicles, currently up to £3,500 for cars, £1,500 for motorcycles, £8,000 for vans and £7,500 for taxis. Find out about plug-in car grants

Zero emission capable vehicles pay either no vehicle tax (VED) or a reduced rate depending on their CO2 emissions, vehicle list price and year of registration. Find out about tax benefits

Our own fleet of smaller vehicles

By 2020, a proportion of Southampton City Council’s fleet of vehicles will be electric. This will be done by exchanging vehicles that need replacing for electric ones. We have purchased the first six, which are now in use.

My Journey is a travel awareness campaign delivered by local Councils and partners, with funding from the Department for Transport, that seeks to help Hampshire residents get around more easily, using a range of different travel choices and options.